Translational Research Specialist

University of Denver•Quinte West, ON

22h•$75,000 - $86,500•Hybrid

About The Position

The Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab at the University of Denver (DU) was created under the leadership of the Governor’s Office to unlock data-informed solutions to our most pressing social problems. Working together with a broad range of government and community partners, we conduct research with rigor to obtain the best available evidence to inform policies, programs, and investments. Our goal is to leverage data to inform policy and practice, set the wheels in motion to achieve and sustain change, and position our partners to pursue additional, meaningful change for the communities they serve with the guidance of eight essential elements. The Colorado Lab works closely with a network of affiliated researchers throughout the state and nationally. Colorado Lab staff are required to possess a solid intuitive understanding of rigorous research methods and why they work, strong written and oral communication skills for explaining technical topics to non-experts, and coding skills necessary to manage and analyze data efficiently. Staff members are expected to engage in a collaborative learning environment where employees are highly responsive to each other as well as to government and research partners. Staff hold themselves and each other responsible for completing high quality, well-documented work in a timely fashion. Position Summary The Colorado Lab seeks to hire a Translational Research Specialist. This position will report to the Executive Director of the Lab, with day-to-day supervision provided by a Project Director or Sr Project Director. This role sits at the intersection of evidence generation and evidence mobilization. The Translational Research Specialist contributes to the full arc of research—from visioning and executing on components of studies to moving evidence into action across Colorado’s executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The position is integral to advancing the Lab’s Mobilize Evidence for Impact pillar by supporting translational opportunities, converting research products into actionable formats, and facilitating evidence use in decision-making spaces. Funding for this position is secured through June 30, 2028 with the possibility of an extension based on funding.

Requirements

Masters Degree in psychology, public health, human development, public policy, sociology or anthropology, prevention science, or related field
Graduate-level coursework in research methods, statistics, econometrics, or psychometrics
At least five years of relevant work experience, two of which must be at the Colorado Lab or a similar organization in an applied research or evaluation setting
Prior experience with project management of research and evaluation projects
Experience working with large administrative datasets
Proficiency in at least one statistical programming language (R, Stata, SAS, Python).
Experience working with government and the policymaking process.

Nice To Haves

Post-master’s coursework or training that is relevant to position (e.g., project management, science communication)
Experience working with local, state, or federal government.
In-depth knowledge of at least one major area of domestic social policy
Experience with qualitative data collection involving policymakers, executive branch staff, and/or legislative staff
Familiarity with CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce), survey tools (e.g., REDCap), or data visualization software

Responsibilities

Support translation of policy and practice questions into research designs; support development of data collection instruments and analytic plans.
Execute on quantitative research design and analysis tasks, including: manage and clean datasets; perform descriptive and inferential analyses (e.g., regression, ANOVA) with well-documented, replicable code;
Execute on qualitative research design and analysis tasks, including protocol development, conducting interviews, and coding of data.
Evaluate dissemination and impact of research translation models and activities, and document learnings for cross-project transferability
Support early steps to building evidence, such as theory of change development, fidelity monitoring, and continuous quality improvement activities.
Develop documentation to support replicability; provide technical assistance to partners during study execution.
Shepherd projects through the Institutional Review Board process.
Proactively manage project components involving multiple partners, tight deadlines, sensitive data, and potentially high-profile or politically sensitive topics.
Create and manage work plans; recommend deviations from project plans as appropriate; help keep project teams organized and on track.
Collaborate on the development of grant proposals; contribute to project scoping, budgeting, and reporting.
Document processes for research translation activities and maintain templates, with the goal of replicability and scaling.
Consult with Project Directors to identify how new deliverables can be tailored to diverse audiences and align with emerging policy or budget windows.
Convert existing Lab research products into actionable formats tailored to decision-maker audiences (e.g., evaluation reports into legislative memos, findings into story walks or visual displays, data summaries into budget decision items).
Develop knowledge products—including policy briefs, rapid-response memos, data visualizations, and presentations—that pair rigorous evidence with clear interpretation and specific recommendations for action.
Apply a nonpartisan approach to research interpretation and presentation of findings to promote credibility and utility across decision-making spaces and leadership changes
Support the annual discovery sprint process to surface time-sensitive policy and practice opportunities for research translation, including interviews with Project Directors and select external partners.
Apply the Lab’s translational research readiness rubric to score and prioritize opportunities, considering policy/practice windows, evidence maturity, decision proximity, relational capital, and strategic fit.
Help Project Directors develop mental models for mobilizing research within project workplans; support identification of braided funding opportunities for translational activities.
Support partner meetings, convenings, and policy events to translate Lab findings for decision makers—acting as an honest broker between research teams, agency partners, policymakers, and nonprofits.
Support planning and execution of research and action exchange events (e.g., Family Impact Seminars) or similar events that promote evidence-informed dialogue between researchers and policymakers.
Assist Project Directors with legislative outreach and help steward long-term relationships with government partners, community organizations, and researchers
Using the principles of evidence-based decision making, provide technical tools, coaching, and facilitation to bridge the gap between evidence building and evidence use for state agencies.